Help: Balalaika

Subject: Balalaika
From: kendall
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 01:58 PM

Does anyone know how to tune a balalaika?

Subject: RE: Help: Balalaika
From: Bert
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 02:01 PM

Here's an earlier thread

Subject: RE: Help: Balalaika
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 05:36 PM

But the question I asked when it ended has still to be answered - "But is there noone out there who plays the balalaika themselves?"

Subject: RE: Help: Balalaika
From: Homeless
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 05:46 PM

Hey Kevin - can I say something like "pluck a string and turn the tuning peg until the note is the right pitch"?

Subject: RE: Help: Balalaika
From: Homeless
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 05:54 PM

Does this tell you what you want to know? indigo clicky

Subject: RE: Help: Balalaika
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 06:31 PM

Both bits of advice are highly relevant, Homeless. And that's a great balalaika site.

What I'm after is someone who's managed to work out some way of playing a balalaika in a context other than Russian, in the same way that musicians back in Irekland worked out how to use the Bouzouki without trying to sound Greek, and te way others have mnanaged to use didgeridoos without trying to sound particularly Australian.

So it's not instruction in how to do it I'm after, so much as an idea of the sound I might be trying for. For example, has anyone tried playing the balalaika and thinking mountain dulcimer?

Subject: RE: Help: Balalaika
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 06:36 PM

Sorry, I posted to the wrong thread--Click here will get you all the info you need, including the names of books, and info on the Balalaika and Domra Association--You can also access Steve Wolownik through this sight, and he is a major musician and the major mover and shaker in this area, he can put you in touch with people in your area who play--Tell him Ted sent you--